Clamping system for support hardware

ABSTRACT

A clamping system for support hardware has at least two spaced apart and opposing hooks. At least one of the hooks is movable on the clamping system relative to the other hook. The hooks can be disposed in a first configuration wherein the hooks are insertable into two spaced-apart slots in a slotted support member, and in a second configuration wherein the hooks positively clamp and secure the support hardware onto the support member. A support assembly includes a support member having a plurality of spaced slots formed therein, a support bracket and a clamping system. The support bracket is mounted on a support member by disposing hooks of the clamping system so that they are insertable into spaced-apart slots, and then moving a hook to positively clamp the bracket onto the support member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of copending, U.S. Provisional Patent Application, Ser. No. 60/957,002, filed Aug. 21, 2007, the disclosure of this U.S. patent application is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to display systems and, more particularly, to an improved clamping system for brackets and other support hardware of display systems.

2. Description of Related Art

One popular type of display system is an adjustable shelving system such as, for example, a gondola type merchandise display system. In a typical gondola type display system a pair of vertical standards or support members stand in a retail and/or commercial environment or are mounted on a wall of the environment. Each support member has a series of slots therein, and the support members are configured so that the slots are offset from the wall. A plurality of brackets and other merchandise display hardware (e.g., hangers, pegs, and the like) are affixed to the support members for displaying merchandise to prospective consumers. Each bracket and hardware is equipped with at least one hook that is configured and positioned on the bracket so that the hook is inserted into slots in a support member and so that the bracket can then be lowered relative to the support member to allow the hook to engage the support member. A shelf is supported by at least two brackets mounted in slots at corresponding heights on the support members. Each bracket may have an upwardly-extending shoulder on the end opposite from the at least on hook, to prevent the shelf from sliding away from the support member. Merchandise may then be displayed on the shelf. Other hardware such as, for example, waterfall brackets, pegs and the like may be similarly affixed to the support members to directly display merchandise thereon.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,425,563, to Mihailoff, issued Jul. 30, 2002, entitled “Clamp for a Retail Display Apparatus,” discloses a clamp for use on a retail or commercial display device. The clamp has a rod that is slidingly received in a channel and selectively positionable therein by a position locking member. A hook plate that is attached to a display element, such as shelving, hanger rods, etc., has hooks formed thereon for engaging a bolt mounted to the rod. A knob on the bolt is tightened to clamp the hook plate between the rod and the inner face of the knob.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,938,367, to Olson, issued Aug. 17, 1999, entitled, “Automatic Piston Lock Mechanism,” discloses an automatic lock mechanism for locking adjustable frame system components together. The locking mechanism includes a locking pin having a shaft, a head and a biasing spring cooperates with a stud and slot locking mechanism. A stud is inserted into a slot, for example, a teardrop shaped slot, and then moved to the direction of insertion. The locking pin then extends into slot, preventing inadvertent upward movement of the horizontal member.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,712, to Valiulis, issued Oct. 6, 1987, entitled, “Bracket for a Grid-Type Rack,” discloses a bracket for attaching a grid type rack to a vertical standard having vertically spaced slots therein. The bracket mounts onto the standard in the manner of a typical gondola style bracket.

United States Patent Application No. 2002/0109056, of Weshler, et al., published Aug. 15, 2002, and entitled “Adjustable Universal Faceout Bracket,” discloses an adjustable bracket assembly that has a single hooked attachment prong or flange that is adjustable at the end of a faceout by way of a threaded screw between the end of the faceout and the bracket flange. The hooked attachment flange is shaped to fit within all slots within the various manufacturers' standards. The faceout is attached to the standard from outside the display by remotely inserting the flange into a slot and turning the faceout bar, thereby screwing the faceout tightly against the standard.

The inventors have realized a number of deficiencies in the prior art support hardware and the methods for clamping the hardware to support members. For example, when the clamping system includes a passive restraint (e.g., merely slides into a slot and is held in place by gravity) an accidental bump of the clamping system may cause disengagement of the clamping system. Additionally, while clamping systems exist that include active restraints, such system require specialized tooling or significant effort to remove the clamp so that a display system employing the clamp can be reconfigured.

Based on the foregoing, it is the general object of this invention to provide a clamping system for brackets and other support hardware that improves upon prior art systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention resides in one aspect in a positive clamping system for display hardware such as a bracket. The clamping system comprises at least two spaced apart and opposing hooks on the bracket. At least one of the hooks is movable on the bracket relative to the other hook. The hooks can be disposed in a first configuration wherein the hooks are insertable into two spaced-apart slots in a slotted support member, and in a second configuration wherein the hooks cooperate to positively secure the bracket onto the support member.

The invention resides in another aspect in a support assembly that includes a clamping system as described herein, in combination with a support member having a plurality of spaced slots formed therein. Optionally, the support assembly comprises two support members and a clamping system for each support member.

Still another aspect of the invention resides in a method of mounting support hardware on a support member using an inventive clamping system. The support member comprises a plurality of spaced slots. The method comprises providing support hardware such as a bracket having the inventive clamping system that includes at least two spaced apart and opposing hooks, wherein at least one hook is movable on the clamping system relative to the other hook. The hooks can be disposed in a first configuration wherein the clamping system is disengaged such that the hooks are insertable into two spaced-apart slots in the support member, and in a second configuration wherein the clamping system is engaged such that the hooks positively secure the bracket onto the support member. The method further comprises disposing the hooks in an insertable configuration relative to slots in the support member, and inserting the hooks into the slots. The hooks are then moved closer together to attain a positive clamping engagement between the bracket and the support member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bracket including an improved clamping system according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial schematic elevation view of the bracket and the clamping system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2A is a partial schematic elevation view of an alternative embodiment of a bracket and the clamping system; and

FIGS. 3-5 are partial schematic elevation views of the bracket and the clamping system of FIG. 1, and a support member therefor.

In these figures like structures are assigned like reference numerals, but may not be referenced in the description of all figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A positive clamping system for support hardware such as, for example, a bracket, as described herein provides a significant improvement over prior art clamping systems included within conventional gondola-type brackets and merchandise support hardware. As described herein, the clamping system may be utilized to more securely mount brackets and other hardware on a slotted support member than a prior art gondola-type bracket. Prior art gondola-type brackets are passively mounted in the support member slots and have limited “clamping systems” that may be easily dislodged from their support members by casual and/or accidental contact with the bracket. In contrast, a clamping system as described herein provides a positive clamping engagement between hardware and the support member and is thereby rendered resistant to inadvertent disengagement of the hardware from the support member. It should be appreciated that while described below as a clamping system for merchandise support hardware it is within the scope of the present invention for the clamping system to be employed in other support systems. For example, the positive clamping system as described herein may be employed to secure support hardware in a vibration-rich environment such as, for example, to secure shelving and the like on a transportation vehicle.

An illustrative embodiment of a clamping system 20 for display hardware 10 such as, for example, a merchandise support bracket as described herein, is shown in FIG. 1. The bracket 10 comprises a carrier portion 12 that has a bracket body 14 between two bracket flanges 16, 18 extending therefrom. The clamping system 20 includes two hooks 22, 24. The hooks 22, 24 are aligned in a common plane so that both hooks 22, 24 may be inserted into longitudinally arranged slots in a support member (not shown). As described below, when actuated the hook 24 either moves toward or moves away from the hook 22. The hook 24 includes a base portion 26 that includes mounting flanges 28, 30. The mounting flanges 28, 30 threadably engage a screw 32 that passes therethrough. The screw 32 is mounted on the bracket 10 by passing through the bracket flanges 16 and 18 in generally parallel relation to the bracket body 14 of the bracket 10. The screw 32 renders the hook 24 movable relative to the hook 22 which, in one embodiment, is formed integrally with the carrier portion 12 of the bracket 10. The hook 24 is configured so that the base portion 26 is adjacent to the bracket body 14 and so that when the screw 32 is turned, the hook 24 longitudinally traverses the screw 32. Thus, the hook 24 moves relative to hook 22 from a first position (wherein the clamping system 20 is in a disengaged position), for inserting the hooks 22 and 24 into slots in a support member, to a second position (wherein the clamping system 20 is in an engaged position) in which the hooks 22 and 24 securely engage the support member.

As shown in FIG. 1, the bracket 10 and clamping system 20 cooperate to provide several stop surfaces 34, 36, and 42 that limit the insertion of the hooks 22 and 24 into slots configured to receive the hooks, as described herein. In one embodiment, the bracket 10 also comprises an optional positioning tooth 44 that is configured to be easily insertable into a slot in a support member. In one embodiment, as is described below, the positioning tooth 44 counters rotational force exerted on the bracket 10 as the screw 32 is turned thus keeping the bracket 10 stable and aligned as the clamping system 20 is actuated. The hooks 22, 24 and the positioning tooth 44 all extend past stop surfaces 34, 36, and 42 (relative to the carrier portion 12) so that they can be inserted into slots in a support member before the insertion is impeded by the stop surfaces. The stop surfaces preferably define a plane that corresponds to the surface of a support member on which the bracket 10 may be mounted.

In one embodiment, the carrier portion 12 includes a footing flange 48 that has a stop surface 48 a that is set at a particular angle relative to the central bracket body 14. The carrier portion 12 is configured so that when the hooks 22, 24 are fully inserted into slots in the support member, the stop surface 48 a of the flange 48 bears against the support member. In such case, the footing flange 48 makes the carrier portion 12 extend from the support member at a specific angle. Preferably, the stop surface 48 a is coplanar with the stop surfaces 34, 36, and 42. In one embodiment, the bracket 10 includes optional mounting screws 46 a, 46 b by which a load (such as a sales placard) can be attached to the bracket 10, as discussed below.

As seen in FIG. 2, the clamping system 20 includes the hook 22 and the hook 24. The hooks 22, 24 comprise cam surfaces 22 a, 24 a for engaging an edge of a slot in the support member. The cam surfaces 22 a, 24 a are each disposed at an oblique angle relative to the direction of relative movement between the hooks, e.g., the movement relative to the longitudinal axis A of the screw 32. The cam surfaces 22 a, 24 a are also each disposed at an oblique angle relative to the stop surfaces 34, 36, 42 and 48 a.

In one embodiment shown in FIG. 2A, the clamping system 20 includes a retention washer 21 between the head of the screw 32 and the bracket flange 16. The retention washer 21 serves to inhibit the screw 32 from becoming loosened should the clamping system 20 be subject to vibrations. The retention washer 21, which may be a lock washer, wave spring, or the like, has particular applicability when the clamping system 20 is used in a vibration-rich environment such as, for example, to secure shelving and the like, in a transportation vehicle such as, for example, a train, bus, truck, watercraft, aircraft or spacecraft.

An illustrative support member 50 for use with bracket 10 and the clamping system 20 is shown in FIG. 3. In one embodiment, the support member 50 is a rectangular tubular member with a wall-engaging or mounting side 52 and a bracket engaging side 54 that is offset from the wall-engaging side 52. The bracket-engaging side 54 has a series of slots 56 therein for receiving the hooks 22, 24 and the positioning tooth 44 of the bracket 10.

As seen in FIG. 3, the clamping system 20 includes the hooks 22, 24 spaced along a length of the screw 32. In a first or disengaged position, the hooks 22, 24 are insertable into slots 56 in the support member 50. In the disengaged position, the closest points of ends 22 b, 24 b of the hooks 22 and 24 are separated by a distance D1 and a gap G1 is formed between one or more of the stop surfaces 34, 36, 42 and 48 a and the bracket-engaging side 54 of the support member 50. Once the hooks 22, 24 of the clamping system 20 are in respective slots, the screw 32 is turned in a clockwise direction (e.g., the direction indicated by rotation arrow 32 a) to bring the hooks 22 and 24 closer together. For example, the hook 24 traverses the screw 32 toward the hook 22. The optional positioning tooth 44 may also be inserted into a slot in the support member 50 to help inhibit the bracket 10 from twisting off the support member as the screw 32 is being tightened.

It will be appreciated that positioning tooth 44, being optional, may be omitted in alternative embodiments of the invention.

As should be appreciated, bringing the hooks 22, 24 closer together brings one or both of the cam surfaces 22 a and 24 a into contact with the edges of respective slots. As seen in FIGS. 3-5, the hooks 22, 24 contact the portions of the support member 50 that define the slots, as the screw 32 is turned in the clockwise direction, the distance D1 between the ends 22 b, 24 b of the hooks is decreased to a lesser distance D2, and the gap G1 between the stop surfaces 34, 36, 42 and 48 a and the bracket-engaging side 54 is reduced to a lesser gap G2. When the hooks 22, 24 are close enough to prevent their withdrawal from their respective slots, the clamping system 20 and the bracket 10 cooperate to prevent the bracket 10 from being dislodged from the support member 50 by casual contact.

As shown in FIG. 5, as the rotation of the screw 32 brings the hooks 22 and 24 even closer to each other towards a fully closed or engaged position, the cam surfaces 22 a, 24 a cause the hooks 22, 24 to slide on the support member, drawing the bracket 10 closer to the support member 50, narrowing the gap G2 between the stop surfaces 34, 36, 42 and 48 a and the bracket-engaging side 54 to substantially zero and, ultimately, securely engaging the support member 50, as seen in FIG. 5. It should be appreciated that a distance D3 (e.g., the clamping system in the engaged position) represents a minimum distance between the ends 22 b and 24 b and, as described above, the gap G3 is substantially zero. When the hooks 22, 24 are fully closed around the portion of the support member 50 between the slots, as shown in FIG. 5, the bracket 10 is securely mounted on the support member 50 and resists rattling and other types of unwanted movement.

As should be appreciated, rotating the screw 32 in a counterclockwise direction moves the hook 24 away from the hook 22 to increase both the gaps G3 toward G1 and the distance D3 to D1 between the ends 22 b, 24 b of the hooks 22, 24 so that the bracket 10 can be removed from the support member 50.

Once the bracket 10 is mounted on the support member 50 and the clamping system 20 is engaged, the bracket 10 can be used to bear a weight of a load thereon. For example, the bracket 10 may be used on its own to support a load such as merchandise for display to prospective consumers. When used in a retail environment, the bracket 10 may be used to support a placard with product information pertaining to a product on a nearby display. Alternatively, the bracket 10 may be one of a pair of similarly mounted brackets that are used to support a shelf for displaying merchandise. For this purpose, the carrier portion 12 may optionally include an upwardly-extending shoulder on the end opposite from the clamping system 20, to prevent the shelf from sliding away from the support member. It should be appreciated that the bracket 10 may individually support items such as, for example, a chair or other item of furniture, cables or wiring, and the like.

The terms “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. In addition, the terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.

Although the invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, upon a reading and understanding of the foregoing disclosure that numerous variations and alterations to the disclosed embodiments will fall within the spirit and scope of this invention and of the appended claims. 

1. A clamping system for support hardware, comprising: at least two spaced apart and opposing hooks, wherein at least one of the hooks is movable on the clamping system relative to the other hook so that the hooks can be disposed in a first configuration wherein the hooks are insertable into two spaced-apart slots in a slotted support member and, in a second configuration, the hooks cooperate to positively clamp the hardware onto the support member.
 2. The clamping system of claim 1, comprising a stop surface adjacent to each hook, wherein each hook comprises a cam surface that defines an oblique angle relative to the adjacent stop surface.
 3. The clamping system of claim 1, wherein the support hardware is comprised of a bracket, the bracket having the clamping system affixed thereto, and wherein the bracket comprises a carrier portion for bearing a weight of a load disposed thereon.
 4. The clamping system of claim 3, wherein the carrier portion includes at least one of the hooks integrally formed thereon.
 5. The clamping system of claim 3, further comprising a screw rotatably mounted to the carrier portion, and wherein at least one of the hooks is disposed on the screw and in response to rotation of the screw the at least one of the hooks traverses a longitudinal length of the screw.
 6. The clamping system of claim 5, wherein each hook comprises a hook surface that defines an oblique angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the screw.
 7. The clamping system of claim 3, wherein the bracket further includes a positioning tooth affixed to the carrier portion for insertion into a slot on the support member.
 8. The clamping system of claim 3, wherein when in the second configuration, the bracket is usable in a vibration-rich environment.
 9. The clamping system of claim 8, wherein the vibration-rich environment is comprised of a bracket for securing one or more shelves in a transportation vehicle.
 10. A support assembly, comprising: a support member having a plurality of spaced slots formed therein; a support bracket having a carrier portion, a bracket body and two flange portions extending from the bracket body; and a clamping system affixed to the support bracket, the clamping system including a screw and at least two spaced apart and opposing hooks mounted to the screw, the hooks suitably sized for insertion into two spaced-apart slots in the support member, wherein at least one hook traverses a longitudinal length of the screw in response to a rotation of the screw; wherein, in a first configuration, the hooks are insertable into two spaced-apart slots of the support member and, in a second configuration, the hooks cooperate to positively secure the support bracket onto the support member.
 11. The support assembly of claim 10, wherein when in the first configuration the support bracket is disposed in corresponding slots of the support member and rotation of the screw causes the at least one hook to traverse the longitudinal length of the screw such that a distance between the hooks is reduced, the support bracket is drawn closer to the support member and the support bracket is securely affixed to the support member.
 12. The support assembly of claim 10, further comprising: a second one of the support bracket; a second one of the clamping system affixed to the second support bracket; and a shelf disposed on a top surface of the carrier portions of the support brackets for receiving a weight of a load disposed thereon.
 13. The support assembly of claim 12, wherein the load is comprised of merchandise for display in a retail environment.
 14. A method of mounting support hardware on a support member, the support member having a plurality of spaced slots, the method comprising: providing a clamping system that includes a screw and at least two spaced apart and opposing hooks, wherein at least one hook is movable along the screw relative to the other hook; affixing the clamping system to the support hardware; rotating the screw in a first direct to dispose the hooks in an insertable configuration relative to slots in the support member; inserting the hooks into corresponding slots in the support member; and rotating the screw in a second direction to dispose the hooks closer together into a positive clamping configuration, the positive clamping configuration drawing the support hardware closer to the support member. 